Care and Counsel Committee

The Care and Counsel Committee provides pastoral care for the Newtown Friends Meeting community. This includes caring for members in need and processing requests for membership, marriage and Clearness Committees. For reasons of confidentiality, service on this committee is limited to members of Newtown Meeting. Care and Counsel consists of 12 members who serve 4-year terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I inform Care and Counsel about a member or attender who needs help or support?
A. The ability of Care and Counsel to minister to members and attenders of Newtown Meeting depends on friends informing us of any concern they may have. Click on, fill out and send thecontact form below to Care and Counsel.

Q. How do I request the temporary use of one of the Meeting’s Healing Quilts for someone in need of comfort due to illness or bereavement?
A. Click on, fill out and send the contact form below to Care and Counsel.

Q. How do I become a member of Newtown Friends Meeting?
A. If, after attending Meeting for Worship and becoming familiar with Quakerism, you feel moved to become a member of Newtown Friends Meeting, the next step is to send a letter expressing your interest to the Clerk of Newtown Friends Meeting (Box 224, Newtown Pa. 18940). The letter should include why you feel led to become a member of Newtown Meeting and the Religious Society of Friends. Following the receipt of your letter, Care and Counsel appoints a Clearness Committee to visit with you to discuss Meeting activities, the nature of membership and any questions you may have. Faith and Practice is a useful resource. www.pym.org/faith-and-practice pages 34-43

Q. How can we be married under the care of Newtown Meeting?
A. To initiate consideration of a Quaker marriage under the care of Newtown Meeting, send a letter to the Clerk of Newtown Friends Meeting (Box 224, Newtown, PA 18940) indicating your interest at least five months prior to your preferred wedding date. Following the receipt of your letter, Care and Counsel appoints a Clearness Committee to meet with you to explore areas of understanding regarding marriage, the nature of your relationship and possible dates for the ceremony. Faith and Practice is a useful resource.www.pym.org/faith-and-practice pages 68-70

Q. What is a Clearness Committee or a Committee for Clearness?
A. Committees for Clearness consist of a few members of Meeting who meet with, listen to, advise and support members considering a change in life’s direction, sensing a leading towards a personal witness or facing a crisis in their lives. Faith and Practice is a useful resource. www.pym.org/faith-and-practice page 29